I graduated from college at a time and place where donning regalia and marching in procession were considered quaint at best and unbearably pompous at worst.
Thank you for this essay. I also find the commencement speaker's words and work inspiring. It's sad, too, that Larry Summer's exhortation from 1990 - "Educate All Your People" - has not found more purchase in Afghanistan (or in Pakistan, I believe).
However, I also find it noteworthy that the speaker - and by extension yourself - passes over the fact that in the US women have *passed* men's educational attainment....and by a significant amount. There are of course various theories about why this might be the case, but I think it's a political problem that merits attention from people at Barnard.
Thank you for the comment William. I was thinking about referencing Robert Reeves' work on this but the post was already too long. He has an interesting book and Substack newsletter worth subscribing to:
Thank you for this essay. I also find the commencement speaker's words and work inspiring. It's sad, too, that Larry Summer's exhortation from 1990 - "Educate All Your People" - has not found more purchase in Afghanistan (or in Pakistan, I believe).
However, I also find it noteworthy that the speaker - and by extension yourself - passes over the fact that in the US women have *passed* men's educational attainment....and by a significant amount. There are of course various theories about why this might be the case, but I think it's a political problem that merits attention from people at Barnard.
Just my $.02.
Thank you for the comment William. I was thinking about referencing Robert Reeves' work on this but the post was already too long. He has an interesting book and Substack newsletter worth subscribing to:
https://ofboysandmen.substack.com/
https://subgameperfect.substack.com/p/summerstime